Backslidings and Returns. (C. M.)
WHY is my heart
My God, my chief delight?
Why are my thoughts no more by day,
With thee, no more by night?
2 Why should my foolish passions rove?
Where can such sweetness be,
As I have tasted in thy love,
As I have found in thee?
3 When my forgetful soul renews
The savour of thy grace,
My heart presumes I cannot lose
The relish all my days.
4 But ere one fleeting hour is pass'd,
The flatt'ring world employs
Some sensual bait to seize my taste,
And to pollute my joys.
5 Trifles of nature or of art,
With fair deceitful charms,
Intrude upon my thoughtless heart,
And thrust thee from my arms.
6 Then I repent and vex my soul,
That I should leave thee so,
Where will those wild affections roll,
That let a Saviour go!
7 Sin's promis'd joys are turn'd to pain,
And I am drown'd in grief;
But my dear Lord returns again,
He flies to my relief.
8 Seizing my soul with sweet surprise, He draws with loving bands;
Divine compassion in his eyes, And pardon in his hands. 9 Wretch that I am, to wander thus, In chase of false delight! Let me be fasten'd to thy cross, Rather than lose thy sight. 10 Make haste, my days, to reach the goal,
And bring my heart to rest
On the dear centre of my soul,
My God, my Saviour's breast.
An Evening Hymn. (Р. М.
WHAT though
my frail eye-lids refuse
Continual watching to keep,
And, punctual as midnight renews,
Demand the refreshment of sleep :
A sovereign protector I have,
Unseen, yet for ever at hand,
Unchangeable, faithful to save,
Almighty to rule and command.
2 From evil secure, and its dread,
I rest if my Saviour is nigh,
And songs, when awake on my bed,
His presence shall nightly supply;
He smiles--and my comforts abound,
His grace as the dew shall descend,
And walls of salvation surround
The soul he delights to defend.
3 Kind Author and Ground of my hope,
Thee, thee for my God I avow,
My glad Ebenezer set up,
And own thou hast help'd me till now;
I muse on the years that are past,
Wherein my defence thou hast prov'd,
Nor wilt thou relinquish at last,
A sinner so signally lov'd.
4 Thy worship no interval knows,
Their fervour is still on the wing,
And while they protect my repose,
They chaunt to the praise of my King:
I, too, at the season ordain'd,
Their chorus for ever shall join,
And love, and adore without end,
Their faithful Creator, and mine.
698. At the Funeral of a Young Person. (C. M.)
HEN blooming youth is snatch'd away
By death's resistless hand,
Our hearts the mournful tribute pay,
Which pity must demand.
2 While pity prompts the rising sigh,
O may this truth, imprest
With awful pow'r, -I too must die,-
Sink deep in ev'ry breast.
3 Let this vain world engage no more;
Behold the gaping tomb!
It bids us seize the present hour,
To-morrow death may come.
4 The voice of this alarming scene,
May ev'ry heart obey :
Nor be the heav'nly warning vain,
Which calls to watch and pray.
50 let us fly, to Jesus fly,
*. Whose pow'rful arm can save;
Then shall our hopes ascend on high,
And triumph o'er the grave.
Exhortation to Prayer. (L.M.)
1 WHAT various hind'rances we meet,
coming to a mercy seat!
Yet who, that knows the worth of pray'r,
But wishes to be often there.
2 Pray'r makes the dark'ned cloud withdraw,
Pray'r climbs the ladder Jacob saw;
Gives exercise to faith and love,
Brings ev'ry blessing from above.
3 Restraining pray'r, we cease to fight;
Pray'r makes the Christian's armour bright;
And Satan trembles, when he sees
The weakest saint upon his knees.
4 While Moses stood with arms spread wide,
Success was found on Isr'el's side;
But when thro' weariness they fail'd,
That moment Amalek prevail'd.
5 Have you no words? ah, think again,
Words flow apace when you complain,
And fill your fellow-creature's ear
With the sad tale of all your care.
6 Were half the breath thus vainly spent,
To heav'n in supplication sent;
Your cheerful song would oft'ner be,
"Hear what the Lord has done for me."
The Nativity of Christ. (C. M.)
SHEPHERDS rejoice, lift up your eyes,
News from the region of the skies,
A Saviour's born to-day.
2 Jesus, the God whom angels fear,
Comes down to dwell with you,
To-day he makes his entrance here,
But not as monarchs do.
3 Go, shepherds, where the infant lies,
And see his humble throne;
With tears of joy in all your eyes,
Go, shepherds, kiss the Son.
4 Glory to God who reigns above,
Let peace surround the earth;
Mortals shall know their Maker's love,
At their Redeemer's birth.
5 Lord! and shall angels have their songs, And men no tunes to raise?
O may we lose these useless tongues,
When we forget to praise.
6 Glory to God, who reigns above,
That pitied us forlorn ;
We join to sing our Maker's love,
For there's a Saviour born.
my refuge, tow'r, O Lord;
I firmly anchor all my hopes
On thine unerring word.
2 Engrav'd as in eternal brass,
The mighty promise shines !
Nor can the pow'rs of darkness raze
Those everlasting lines.
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